TSC To Sack The Following Teachers, Issues Directives To HOI’S

The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) is weighing tough disciplinary measures against junior school teachers who have joined an ongoing strike, signaling that those who fail to report to their duty stations could face dismissal.

This development underscores escalating tensions between TSC and a section of educators over employment terms and broader workplace concerns.

In an internal memo dated April 27, 2026, and addressed to Regional Directors, the Commission’s Director of Staffing, Antonina Lentoijoni, issued firm instructions requiring close monitoring of teacher attendance across the country.

County Directors have been tasked with ensuring strict compliance, while school headteachers have been directed to maintain detailed daily attendance registers for all junior school intern teachers. These records are to be submitted each day to TSC headquarters via email, creating a centralized system for tracking participation during the strike period.

According to TSC, the data collected will play a critical role in enabling timely decision-making, particularly on issues relating to the administration of the junior school internship programme and the overall management of institutions under the competency-based curriculum framework.

The directive reflects TSC’s intent to maintain operational continuity in schools while also gathering evidence that could inform disciplinary or administrative action.

The standoff comes in the wake of a nationwide protest organized by junior school intern teachers in collaboration with the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).

The strike, which coincided with the reopening of schools, is aimed at pressuring the government and TSC to transition intern teachers into permanent and pensionable employment terms.

Beyond job confirmation, the protesting teachers have raised a series of grievances. Among them are concerns over the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA) insurance scheme, questions about the autonomy and management structure of junior schools, and delays in payments by the Kenya National Examinations Council to teachers who serve as examination invigilators.

These issues, teachers argue, reflect systemic challenges that require urgent government intervention. Despite calls for industrial action issued by KUPPET branches at the county level, early reports and spot checks indicate that a significant number of junior school teachers have continued reporting to work. Many appear reluctant to participate fully in the strike due to fears of losing their jobs, especially in light of TSC’s warning and ongoing monitoring measures.

Currently, the Commission has approximately 44,000 junior school teachers employed under internship arrangements. The programme has been at the center of legal and policy debates in recent months.

In a landmark ruling, the Court of Appeal of Kenya declared the TSC internship model null and void, arguing that it is both illegal and discriminatory when applied to fully qualified teachers. The court maintained that internship frameworks are only appropriate for trainee teachers, not individuals who are already trained, registered, and eligible for full employment.

The internship programme itself has expanded rapidly. In January 2025, TSC recruited 20,000 intern teachers under one-year contracts.

These contracts were later extended for an additional year, now set to run from January 1 to December 31, 2026. Earlier this year, the Commission hired an additional 24,000 junior school intern teachers, deploying them nationwide under similar one-year terms.

However, uncertainty surrounds the future of this second cohort. Julius Ogamba, the Cabinet Secretary for Education, has yet to clearly outline what will happen to the 24,000 teachers recruited in January 2026.

While both the government and TSC leadership have consistently assured that the initial 20,000 interns will be absorbed into permanent and pensionable positions after the July budget, no such commitment has been made regarding the newer recruits.

Top government officials, including William Ruto, have reiterated plans to confirm the first batch of intern teachers, but have remained largely silent on the fate of the remaining 24,000. This ambiguity has fueled anxiety among educators and contributed to the growing unrest within the sector.

Adding another layer to the issue, the government has announced intentions to recruit an additional 16,000 teachers this year for both junior and senior schools, again under internship terms.

This move has drawn criticism from stakeholders who argue that expanding the internship model, despite the court ruling, may deepen the existing crisis rather than resolve it.

As the situation unfolds, TSC is reportedly seeking financial resources to facilitate the confirmation of at least 20,000 intern teachers into permanent positions by January 2027.

However, with legal challenges, budgetary constraints, and union pressure all converging, the future of tens of thousands of junior school teachers remains uncertain.

The coming weeks are likely to be decisive, as the Commission balances enforcement measures with negotiations, and as teachers weigh the risks of continued protest against the possibility of long-term job security.

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